Vered Brett’s work explores the depth and complexity of the multiple layers that build our life and compose our individual stories. Through her transparent and opaque layers, she gradually peels layers off in her personal journey of self-discovery. Her creative process is free from rules, as is her approach to life. Through her work, she wishes to inspire others to feel fearless, vulnerable and to connect with who they are. She is driven by curiosity, the joy of child-like exploration, and the search for freedom and unrestricted self-expression.
I have started painting abstract in mid 2021, soon after I relocated to Portugal from the UK. Having the space and mental peacefulness to search and discover what to do with the rest of my life, allowed me to re-discover my passion and love for painting. Making art just felt right instantly. Like finding the missing piece of a puzzle. The absolute freedom that abstract art offers me, the joy of a childish exploration, and the possibility to exist without any rules are the main reasons I make art.
When you create a new work, how do you proceed? What comes first?
I typically work on a body of work, which means working on a series of paintings simultaneously. This allows a deep exploration of a certain theme as well as a timely pace to create a cohesive series. A significant part of my process begins before the actual painting, which includes forming ideas and inspiration for the work. I first journal about memories, experiences, and unresolved feelings I wish to re-visit and explore. My ideas for colours, shapes and texture come from nature, specifically the coastline of Portugal. As a passionate photographer, I capture those ideas with my camera and let them ‘cook’ in my head. I often create studies and sketches on paper as a ‘warm-up’ exercise as well as to build a colour palette. My intuitive painting process then starts with initial pours of water-diluted acrylic paint on raw canvas or paper – I never know how a painting will begin or end and that is the fascinating part of the process.
From what do you get your motivation?
Mostly from my ‘WHY’. I paint abstract art because it offers me a safe space to heal, to be in solitude and to stop thinking. I am able to express myself without any words, without rules or judgment and that is pure freedom. As a deep thinker, I find peace in the ability to stop thinking when I paint. The outside world stops to exist and nothing matters during that time of connection with myself. Painting is how I make sense of the world.
Your life without art would be...
I don’t need to imagine such a scenario because I was forced to spend most of my life without making art and it was an unhappy life. I’ve searched for happiness in all the wrong places until I became an artist. Today I know that I’ve always been one, even if I didn’t make art. Becoming an artist has transformed my existence in so many ways, to a point where I feel as if I was re-born. I will always make art.
What is the best art place in your city at the moment?
I’m tempted to say the coastline because nature is the best artist there is. But I’m also happy to share that my city, Cascais, is a hub of culture and includes a range of art galleries, museums and cultural centres with historical to contemporary art. Anyone who visits Cascais should go to the art district, Paula Rego’s museum (and even my studio).
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